{Last updated: 8/24/2013}
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Gee, another late update; a very, very LONG one, if I should comment... I'm very SORRY for that! X_x ..Anyways, big shout-out to "OverLord Ayame" to keep my Chapters lookin' good to everyone's eyes~! x3
Thank you for everyone who had read, reviewed, followed, or favourited this fic. It means so much to me and I feel awful for leaving you all waiting long! So thanks to Tera Tyrant Shadic, Overlord Valkyrie, OverLord Ayame, OverlordHiroko, Mailumia, godzilla90fan, Yuu-chan, Riyuki Mio, UNKNOWN, FullmetalFan870 (who already 'quit' from the world of Fanfiction), DiLost, HiddenPurplePower, Lunar Wave, Leila Andell, Crimson Reaper Ragna (who previously known as "Shunto"), Mage of Hope, Ishakaji, Kiwi and a Random Penguin, willfoxx, palad1n, ninakietnaki, Guest, Dark-Key0, RavenAlche, Killthief99, mimi12, nana, michi, hihi, XrosaryX, Mocha H, AceStarKnight, overlordpringerx, Niom Lamboise, kirbystarwarrior, and Overlord-Lucia (AND those who've fav and follow the story!). Thank you all for your lovely reviews. Your supportive and encouraging words have made me smile time and time again. You didn't deserve the wait and I'm truly sorry for that!
I can't thank you enough for not giving up on me. :') ..Once again, I apologize for the wait! x_X ..It'll be harder to post Chapters from now on, but I'll try! :)
Anyway, enough for the chit-chat. On the story~! ^_^-
Disclaimer : I don't own Disgaea. If I do, I already make it until the sixth series... OwO
The Curse of Blood
Chapter 38 : When Problems Arise...
"There you are, soldiers. We've been waiting for you all to come."
Salvatore placed one hand to her hip as she looked at the Hades' crew members, who at the moment, those who used to be 'cosplaying' were already on their usual outfit now. Master Big Star was standing beside her.
"We'll go and face whatever comes to us once we get to Ischyrós... Are you soldiers ready to face it all? If not, then step back," Salvatore affirmed, crossing her arms.
Hearing this, all of the Hades' crew members quickly gave a nod to Salvatore, assuring her that they're ready to face everything once they arrived at Ischyrós.
"Alright. I guess you're all set then," Master Big Star smiled, taking a few step back before he turned his back on them. "Buckle up, everyone. I'll summon the way to Ischyrós!"
With those words, the Sophomore Leader pulled out two red roses into his grasp. Then, the roses grew bright red in color. Master Big Star used the glowing roses to write some writings on the midair, which was:
Πύλη του ''Ισχυρός'', ανοιχτό.
"Emizeeeel..." Fuka muttered, looking at the young Death. "... Care to translate those writing for us? 'Cause seriously, it's written in Greek."
The young President looked at the writings in thought. Moments later, he finally spoke.
"It reads "Pýli̱ tou ''Ισχυρός'', anoichtó.", which means "Gate of ''Ischyrós'', open."," Emizel explained, still looking at the writings that 'floating' in midair created by Master Big Star. "Ischyrós means Strong, actually. But seeing the word Ischyrós was inside quotation marks, I'm pretty sure that the word Ischyrós here was intended to be the name of something... At this case, Ischyrós is the name of the Netherworld we're about to visit."
"Gosh, I think we should learn the language Greek after this..." Aya commented, placing her hand to her head as she sighs.
Later, the 'floating' writings shone before each of the letters slowly moved in a circular motion, which later started moving faster before finally creating a huge void colored black and red that blew out a gust of wind at them.
"This is it, everyone; the gate to the Netherworld Ischyrós," Master Big Star stated, as he turned around to face the group. "Alright, who wants to go—"
The Sophomore Leader was cut off when he saw all members of the Hades' crew ran past him and hopped into the black-and-red portal, which shocked him a bit.
"They're so determinate to go to Ischyrós, don't you agree?" Master Big Star commented, glancing to Salvatore who stood beside him.
"Yes, they are... Now c'mon, Big Star. Let's move," With those words, Salvatore walked into the portal. Master Big Star chuckled before he followed the Diez Gentlemen from behind. Once the Sophomore Leader's body disappeared into the dark-and-red void, the portal disappeared, leaving behind 'Mr. Gorgeous Flower Shop' alone with a sign that read 'Closed' at the front door of the shop...
~~~~0~~~~
...
The group fell from a dark-and-red portal moments later, landing on the hard ground. Whether they landed on their feet or their faces, they all stood up, and looked around to their surroundings.
"Arrived at Ischyrós already? Wow, the trip is sure fast," Krichevskoy commented, rubbing his shirt down for dust.
"O-Oh god..." the group heard Fuka muttered. They looked at the Prinny Girl confusedly before they looked to where the brunette is facing.
When they did, aside from Salvatore, Emizel, and Axel, the group found themselves shocked by the sight placed a few meters in front of them.
There before them, stood an enormous palace made by fine, black colored stones, the gate was built with ebony steel that stood around the castle in a square formation. The trees around the castle lost almost all of their leaves, though some still had leaves, but they were withered. There was no grass that grew due to the soil around that didn't look fertile.
Aside from it all, they were shocked by one 'thing' that spread all over the castle and the surroundings... And the 'thing' was no other than blood.
Blood traces could be seen on the trees' leaves and trunks, and there was even a river filled with blood, which surrounding the palace.
The view of the castle was enough to give everyone a slight feeling of dread in their hearts, though Salvatore was an exception. The group thought to not go into the palace, but they shook it off, knew that if they do so, Valvatorez would be in even a worse shape than what Axel had told them. So after gathering enough courage into their souls, the group walked to the front gate of the black, bloody castle.
Once they arrived at the said spot, they all gasped when they saw a ball of light colored deep red formed right above their heads. It slowly moved itself, creating some kind of writings on the midair, which stated:
Καλώς ήλθατε στο Ισχυρός
"... Emizel?" Fuka called the young Shinigami, looking at him over her shoulder. "... You know what to do."
"Right..." the young Death muttered and took a careful look to the writings that floated above them.
"Hmm... It's "Kaló̱s í̱lthate sto Ischyrós", which means "Welcome to Ischyrós"," Emizel explained, still looking at the writings colored deep red that floating above their heads. "I believe I've told you that Ischyrós means 'Strong', but I am sure you all here knew why I keep translate it as Ischyrós."
"Sure we did. It's because of the word 'Ischyrós' is the name of this Netherworld, which is why you keep translate it as Ischyrós," Aya concluded, watching the young Death gave her a nod for her conclusion.
Another Greek writings made by bright red light was formed on the air, which was:
Παρακαλώ εισάγετε τα τρία ονόματα
"W-... What's the meaning of this one, Sir Emizel?" Desco asked, her red eyes still fixed to the floating writings as she walked to Emizel's side.
"Hmm..." the young Shinigami looked to the writings in thought before he spoke again, "This time, it's... "Parakaló̱ eiságete ta tría onómata", which means "Please enter the three names"," Emizel explained, still looking at the writings colored deep red that floating above their heads.
"Three names?" Fuka raised an eyebrow once she said this, "Are these writings talking about the three names we've gathered back at Thánatos Graveyard at the Human World?"
"That could be right..." Fenrich muttered, crossing his arms. "The problem is, where and how the hell do we enter the three names we got?"
Once the statement was out from the Werewolf's mouth, suddenly, a black-colored hologram screen begins to emit out of nowhere, right in front of the castle's gate.
Seeing this, Fenrich scowled, teeth grinding together in annoyance. "Dammit, I'm taking my words back."
Fuka walked to the hologram screen, taking a careful look on it. On the black-colored screen, the Prinny Girl saw some writings colored red in Bold format— which luckily— written in English. It stated:
PLEASE SAY OUT THE THREE NAMES.
Fuka inhaled deeply once she read the writings, feeling her heart beat rapidly for reason unknown. Then, after clearing her throat, the Prinny Girl spoke the first name aloud.
"A-... Artina."
A 'beep' coming out from the hologram screen in front of the Prinny Girl, and another English writings colored red in bold format was again formed on the screen:
CORRECT. SAY OUT THE NEXT ONE.
Whilst Fuka said the next name— her mother's name— Emizel heard a faint sound of footsteps from his back, making him looked to that direction.
"... Eh?" was all the young Death said when he saw someone— two figures, to be exact— walking to their direction. One of them— a Reaper— seems to be injured, that he need the support of his companion beside him.
One that was not injured— a man— looked up, and couldn't help but gasped in shock once he did so.
"E-... Emizel?" the man called out the young Death's name. "W-What are you doing in a place like this?"
Emizel almost couldn't believe his eyes once he realized that he's not seeing things— it was HIM his eyes caught in the view.
"Father... W-What are you doing here?" Emizel asked, walking to his parent and the Reaper.
"Emizel..." the former President— Death King Hugo—muttered out, looking to his son right in the eye. "So you have finally returned to the Netherworld... I'm glad you came back safe from the Human World."
The young Shinigami seems shocked at this. "Y-... You know about it?"
Hugo nodded to his boy. "Yes... I knew that you and the others went to the Human World for a rescue mission from Abaddon, via video call."
Emizel glanced to his personal bodyguards, giving them a small smile as thanks. Then, he turned his attention back to his father, before he moved his red eyes to the Reaper that need his father's support to keep himself on his feet, who is now panting heavily.
"Hey... W-What's wrong? Father, something is fishy from him. What is—" Emizel was cut off by the Reaper, but...
What the boy heard from the Reaper was unexpected from him.
"Ο κόσμος... είναι σε κίνδυνο."
Emizel red orbs widened once he heard a familiar language for him being spoken by the Reaper, which he never expected to out from any Death's mouth.
Meanwhile, Fuka was about to say the third name— which was her own— when suddenly, the writings on the screen changes to...
GREEK DETECTED. TRANSLATION, TURNED ON.
At this the screen shows some writings, which happens to be the translation of what the Reaper just said.
Ο κόσμος... είναι σε κίνδυνο.
(O kósmos... eínai se kíndyno.)
The world... is in danger.
As the group gasped in surprise, something clicked in their mind as they realized an unexpected truth. They remembered Emizel said to them that Greek was an important language that all Shinigami agreed to use to contact one another when they felt the Netherworld— every contents of it— were all in doom.
And right now... A Shinigami just spoke to Emizel with their important language.
With his heart beating rapidly, Emizel spoke to the Reaper, also in Greek. "Ο κόσμος... είναι σε κίνδυνο;"
The translation did its job again :
Ο κόσμος... είναι σε κίνδυνο;
(O kósmos... eínai se kíndyno?)
The world... is in danger?
Emizel once again spoke, a bit longer this time. "Θα μιλήσει για μένα με μια γλώσσα που όλοι συμφώνησαν να χρησιμοποιήσουν, όταν ο κόσμος είναι σε κρίση ... Είσαι σοβαρός;"
And again, the translator did its job :
Θα μιλήσει για μένα με μια γλώσσα που όλοι συμφώνησαν να χρησιμοποιήσουν, όταν ο κόσμος είναι σε κρίση ... Είσαι σοβαρός;
(Tha milí̱sei gia ména me mia gló̱ssa pou óloi symfó̱ni̱san na chri̱simopoií̱soun, ótan o kósmos eínai se krísi̱ ... Eísai sovarós?)
You talk to me with a language we all agreed to use when the world is in crisis ... Are you serious?
The Reaper opened his mouth would like to say something when suddenly, he coughed a lot of blood, making Emizel cringed— his fear of the Netherworld's crisis was enough for the young Death's heart filled with nothing but horror, which is why he cringed once he saw the Reaper cough up blood. Then, the Reaper fell to his knees, showing something unexpected being embedded on his back...
Emizel gasped aloud, taking a few step backwards before he stumbled and fell to his back, eyes fixed to the thing that embedded on the Reaper's back. Emizel's red eyes widened in disbelief, his breathing was quicken due to the fear that had completely take over his heart.
"T-... T-... That's—" Emizel began, but was cut off when suddenly, the Reaper screamed aloud in agony before a large quantity of blood squirted out from the Reaper's body, which is not just covering the ground below with blood— the large quantity of the red liquid also made clothes worn by some Hades' crew members 'decorated' with red stains.
The Reaper then fell to the ground, eyes were lifeless. His body stayed on where it was before his body finally disappeared to nothing but dust, the same goes to the thing that used to be on the Reaper's back. The dust then blown by the wind that blew all around Ischyrós...
After a long, tense silence, Emizel— who still had his breathe quicken— spoke, breaking the silence between them.
"T-That thing... e-embedded on the Reaper's back..." the young Shinigami looked up to his father, red eyes still widened in horror. "I-It's... It's the sword that could bring doom to everyone, b-but more known to be Shinigami's worst nightmare... 'Sword of Doom', otherwise known as... 'Xífos tou Moíra'."
Hugo stared at his boy with concern, feeling bad that his son need to see and know such truth. For a moment, the former President kept silent. But then he sighed, walking towards Emizel and kneeled down to his son's eye level.
"Emizel, my son... I'm sorry..." Hugo began, bringing his arms to his son's back before he pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry... to make you see such thing."
With fear took over his heart, Emizel couldn't anymore hold back the tears he tried so hard to not release. So he hugged back his father, crying hard to his parent's chest.
"F-Father... I-I'm... H-HWAAAAAA!"
...
As the group watched Emizel cried to his father's chest, they were all silent, having no idea of what to do next.
They're all too shocked with the fact that every Netherworlds in the universe are in danger. Sure, some of the group's members are not coming from the Netherworld, but from all places, Netherworld is the place where they mostly spent their time together— either it was for fight each other for some training, having weird misadventures, or just hang out.
Suddenly, a beeping sound was heard from a video phone held by one of the Android class. The group noticed this as they watched the Android open up the device.
Once the Android opens the video phone, a hologram screen begins to emit from it, showing the group the face of...
"...Eh?" Mao stepped closer to the screen of the video phone, eyes widened. "... Geoffrey?"
At the mention of the name, Raspberyl and her lackeys gasped, running to Mao's side to see that the face shown on the screen was really Mao's well-known butler— Geoffrey.
"H-... How did you—" Mao began, but was cut off by his butler.
"Y-Young Master! I'm glad you're alright... I know you'll ask how I can contact you, but this isn't the time to explain such thing!" the butler cried out, looking frantic. "I-I would like to inform you that wherever you are right now, Young Master, don't come back to the academy!"
Mao was completely baffled at this. "W-What? Geoffrey! What's that suppose to—!" Again, the white-haired Overlord was cut off, now by a female voice.
"Y-Your Highness! Please listen to what Geoffrey just said!"
An unfamiliar face of a woman in maid outfit— though familiar for Mao, Raspberyl, and her lackeys— stepped into the hologram screen, right beside Geoffrey. Salvatore and Master Big Star also seemed to know the maid on the 'screen', as their face reacts once they saw the maid's face.
"M-... Mai?" Mao uttered out the maid's name. "Even you tell me to not going there...? J-Just what happened there? Tell me, Geoffrey, Mai!"
A confused Fenrich finally spoke out his curiosity of the two unfamiliar faces on the 'screen'. "... Mind to tell me who were those two, 'partner'?"
Mao sighs before he turned his head to Fenrich. "They're Geoffrey and Mai, my butler and maid. They served me royally, just like how you served that vampire Valvatorez. Right now, they're at Evil Academy because I told them to keep it safe while I'm gone."
Fenrich raised an eyebrow at this. "... Huh? And here I thought only that Raspberyl girl owns servants..." the Werewolf commented, only to get a glare from Raspberyl.
"They're not servants!" the Delinquent snapped to the Werewolf. "Kyoko and Asuka are my lackeys!"
"Doesn't that have the same meaning?" Fenrich retorted blankly, which made Raspberyl get even more annoyed. But before the Delinquent could snap again to the Werewolf, Geoffrey and Mai's voices interrupts them.
"M-Mai! Watch out! They're behi—!"
"G-Geoffrey! B-Behind yo—!"
ZRASH! ZRASH!
...
The Hades' crew— including Mao, Raspberyl, her lackeys, Fenrich, and even Emizel and Hugo— are all had their eyes widened once they heard the sharp, horrifying sound of a sword from the video phone held by the Android class— who also seems shocked.
Slowly, with dread growing on each of their hearts, the group turned their heads to the hologram screen of the video phone. When they did, it took all of the strength they had to keep them from scream or cry in horror.
The screen shows how terrible Evil Academy had become. It was a total wreck— several shards of broken glass were strewn about the ground, furniture was broke to pieces, and everything there were destroyed... and covered with blood.
Seconds later, the group watched Geoffrey and Mai fell to the ground, their faces were pale and their eyes are wide and white in color, blood could be seen coming out from their mouths.
The sight were enough to make everyone gasped in horror, while Emizel— who was afraid from the start— hugs his father tightly while burying his head to his father's chest, faint whimpers coming out from his mouth.
Mao gasped aloud at the sight, his red eyes become as wide as a saucer as he backed away from the hologram screen.
"T-... They..." Mao fell to his knees, lowering his head. "They're... d-... dead..."
"M-Mao..." Raspberyl walked over her shocked rival, kneeling to his level. The Delinquent was about to stroke Mao's head for comfort when suddenly, the Overlord flung his arms around her, hugging her tight.
"T-THEY'RE DEAD!" the white-haired Overlord cried out in sorrow and— unexpectedly— he began to sobs. "GEOFFREY AND MAI ARE... D-DEAD! I-IF THEY'RE DEAD, S-SO DO... E-EVERYONE IN THE ACADEMY!"
"N-No, Mao! D-Don't think like that!" Raspberyl was unsure about what to do at comforting the unusually saddened and frustrated Mao. But she then decided to slowly return his hug, hoping it would calm her rival. "Think positive, alright...? Don't let those ghastly thoughts swirled in your mi—"
"Milady, I've taken care of the last survivors here."
Everyone felt their heart hammered against their chest once they heard the cold, sadistic voice of a woman coming from the video phone. As they fixed their eyes to the hologram screen, they saw a pair of foot wearing simple white high-heeled shoes.
"L-Last survivors...?" Asuka muttered in disbelief, hands moved over mouth. "T-That means... E-Everyone... T-They're—"
"SEE, B-BERYL?! I T-TOLD YOU... T-THEY'RE ALL... K-KILLED— DEAD!" Mao cried aloud between his sobs, growing even frustrated than before. He trembled violently and— unexpectedly— streams of tears began to went out of his eyes as he tighten his hold around his rival's small body, all that while letting his head dropped atop Raspberyl's shoulder.
"M-Mao..." Raspberyl's voice almost reduced to a whisper as she moved one hand to gently stroke her rival's head, the other tighten the hug around Mao's body. She too was shocked with the news that Evil Academy was now nothing but a total wreck— the tears that escaped her eyes proved it all.
"T-Those shoes... Could it be... G-Gwen?" Krichevskoy stuttered as his eyes widened in disbelief. First was their son Laharl, and now this...? Both sadness and anger bubbled within the King's heart. This 'Milady' enemy... He'll make sure that once he meet her, he will beat the crap out of this girl for making his dearest love turned to a cold, bloodthirsty killer! Not only that... It was also to avenge their son's death! It was the fault of this 'Milady' enemy that Laharl was dead in the hands of his wife!
"Good, good... Now let us depart to the next zone to be annihilate." a voice of an innocent-like girl coming out from the video phone before another pair of foot came to the view. It was wearing a pair of dark brown shoes, and seems to wear a pair of black stockings.
"H-Hey... W-Why does those brown shoes... looks like mine here?" Fuka commented, head tilting to the side. "Sure, the brown color of the shoes is darker than mine... But why does the shoes look exactly like mine?"
No one could answer the Fuka's question as the voice of the woman with white high-heeled shoes came again from the video phone.
"Yes, Milady... What's the name of the world again?" A short silence, then she continued with a snap of her fingers. "Ah, that's right! Now is the time for us to spread your ultimate power to the Human World, Milady! Now where to go... Ah, yes! VELDIME! How come I forget?"
At the mention of the familiar name, Adell, Rozalin, Axel, and Main Hero B felt their heart hammered hard against their chest, their faces shows nothing but shock that mixed with fear.
"W-What?!" Adell cried aloud in disbelief. He couldn't believe what he just heard— those two bloodthirsty killers are planning to go to Veldime— his hometown!
"A-Are they... s-serious?!" Axel managed to say, taking a few step forward before he stumbled (thanks to his injury on his feet), and would've fell to the ground on his face if Main Hero B wasn't there to catch him in time.
"T-They're insane!" Rozalin added a bit fearfully, taking a few step backwards.
"That's right, my good soldier... Now let us spread the 'joy' on Veldime... by spraying blood all over the place! Khu khu khu... This is great~!" the brown-shoes girl cheerfully stated, as she and the white-shoes woman were gone from the view in a flash of dark aura. At the time they're gone, the video phone held by the Android class is running out of battery that it shut down itself, leaving the group all wide-eyed and shocked...
The Reaper who died moments ago was right about the Netherworld's crisis, after all... but now, the group believed that the crisis problem began to arise to a higher level.
It was not just the Netherworld now— the Human World— and even Celestia... were all facing an apocalypse— the three worlds were facing their impending doom.
Whoa... This one is sure doesn't end well. The three worlds were facing crisis, and more people has lost their lives... How will the Hades' crew handle this? And what will happen to Veldime...?
Find it out at the next Chapter! ;)
Oh, right. Those who thinks the maid character named Mai here as my OC, let me tell you now : SHE'S NOT. She's an official character made for the Manga of Disgaea 3. And when I said 'Manga', that means the character Mai was created by the Manga creator, Shin Sasaki. She was like this ( just copy and paste the link on the Link Bar to see it. Other pics were just bonus I added for yours truly ) :
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1sh3j0oc01r29zrvo1_1280.png (Mai and Geoffrey, Manga page)
http://karanmamaeryl.tumblr.com/image/23085242264 (Mai, Manga Page)
http://karanmamaeryl.tumblr.com/image/14758093429 (A Fanart made by Pixiv artist)
The reason she made a cameo here in this fic is because I fave and adore her... 'Cause really, she needs moar love, in my opinion~ x3
Oh, and... I'm sorry, but I got no replies again this time! I was EXTREMELY busy until I can't make one. X_x ..But you know how THANKFUL I am when I got your feedbacks; it means a LOT to me! Thank you for the reviews, buddies! I'm glad you enjoyed this story, even though I always make you all annoyed by the late updates... X_x
You know what they said; "Nobody's Perfect". So I beg your pardon if there's some errors and 'weird' sentences in this Chapter. Thank you to you all who've read, fav, follow, and review this story! :) ..Well, as always, next Chapter is in-progress. So stay tuned for more Chapters, everyone! Cheers~! ^^-
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Have a good day, buddies~! :3